Are raised enzymes dangerous?

Raised cardiac enzymes?

• I was told at hospital that I had raised cardiac enzymes although doctor felt that I did not show all the symptoms of a heart attack. Further tests showed no damage to heart muscle ot arteries. Can these enzymes be raised other than connected to heart attack?

• Answer:

  Hard to tell as you state which enzymes you are talking about. There are muscle enzymes that can be elevated but are not necessarily specific to the heart (CK) and then there are more specific enzymes pertaining to the heart (troponin and less so CKMB). In any event it is not only the elevation but the rise and fall of the enzymes in conjunction with the symptoms that gives the diagnosis. Usually one repeats the enzymes every 6 hours. It takes at least 6-8 hours to see an elevation. If you already have such an elevation then the repeat testing would show an increase or decrease of those enzymes.